Sustainability Actions

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Small steps come together to make a difference, and with nearly 90,000 students and 15,000 staff, the DPS community has an opportunity to make a world of difference. Everyone plays a role in creating a healthy, livable future, and it’s easy to take sustainable actions no matter where you live, work, and play. The lists provided here are meant to support you in applying sustainability to your daily life. Do the parts that make sense for you. Sustainability is a lifestyle and it takes time to form new habits. We look forward to supporting you as you see fit!

Lets Take Action!

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step

- Lao Tzu

Things You Can Do at School

Recycle right, compost correctly, and use Denver’s Waste Directory if you’re not sure how
Avoid wasting food
Walk, bike, scoot, carpool or take public transit
Pack lunches in reusable bags and containers
Explore Meatless Mondays and use locally grown produce
Join your school’s sustainability club, or contact the DPS Sustainability Team to start one
Take a nature-inspired field trip
Read books about sustainability
Turn off the lights when you’re the last to leave a room
Reuse school supplies from previous semesters
Contact the DPS Sustainability Team to host a waste audit, start a school garden or sustainability club.
Reduce phantom load by unplugging electronics or use a power strip
Don’t idle vehicles in front of schools

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Things You Can Do at Home

Use your voice!
- Contact your elected officials
- Vote in every local, state, and national election
- Vote with your dollars
  - Buy ENERGY STAR or WaterSense-labeled products
  - Buy products made with recycled content
  - Buy locally made products
  - Buy cleaning products that meet EPA’s Safer Choice Standard
  - Buy products in glass instead of plastic
  - Buy used
Power your home with renewable energy
Schedule a free Home Energy Squad visit through Xcel Energy
Take advantage of Denver Water and Xcel Energy rebates for efficient products
Take time to experience and connect with nature
Connect with the Denver Climate Action, Sustainability & Resiliency department’s resources
Connect with DPS Sustainability and DPS Gardens on Instagram
Recycle right, compost correctly, and use Denver’s Waste Directory if you’re not sure how
Halt junk mail
Bring reusable bags to the store
Use package-free or plant-based products
Reduce single-use plastic
Use environmentally friendly cleaning and laundry products
Reduce phantom load by unplugging electronics or use a power strip

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Things You Can Do at the Office

Recycle right, compost correctly, and use Denver’s Waste Directory if you’re not sure how
Walk, bike, scoot, carpool or take public transit
Print only what you need, and do so double-sided in black and white
Turn off lights when not needed
Avoid idling DPS vehicles
Have conversations with coworkers and leadership to promote sustainability
Support sustainable vendors
Bring a reusable mug, water bottle, napkin, and towel
Move to paperless workflows
Buy only the amount of supplies you need, and buy eco-friendly products
Stock the breakroom with reusable dishes and silverware
Take the stairs instead of the elevator
Reduce phantom load by unplugging electronics or use a power strip
Explore Meatless Mondays and use locally grown produce

Back to the Top

Sustainability Actions

Jump to a Section

Lets Take Action!

Things You Can Do at School

Recycle right, compost correctly, and use Denver’s Waste Directory if you’re not sure how

Avoid wasting food

Walk, bike, scoot, carpool or take public transit

Pack lunches in reusable bags and containers

Explore Meatless Mondays and use locally grown produce

Join your school’s sustainability club, or contact the DPS Sustainability Team to start one

Take a nature-inspired field trip

Read books about sustainability

Turn off the lights when you’re the last to leave a room

Reuse school supplies from previous semesters

Contact the DPS Sustainability Team to host a waste audit, start a school garden or sustainability club.

Reduce phantom load by unplugging electronics or use a power strip

Don’t idle vehicles in front of schools

Things You Can Do at Home

Use your voice!

Contact your elected officials

Vote in every local, state, and national election

Vote with your dollars

Buy ENERGY STAR or WaterSense-labeled products

Buy products made with recycled content

Buy locally made products

Buy cleaning products that meet EPA’s Safer Choice Standard

Buy products in glass instead of plastic

Buy used

Power your home with renewable energy

Schedule a free Home Energy Squad visit through Xcel Energy

Take advantage of Denver Water and Xcel Energy rebates for efficient products

Take time to experience and connect with nature

Connect with the Denver Climate Action, Sustainability & Resiliency department’s resources

Connect with DPS Sustainability and DPS Gardens on Instagram

Recycle right, compost correctly, and use Denver’s Waste Directory if you’re not sure how

Halt junk mail

Bring reusable bags to the store

Use package-free or plant-based products

Reduce single-use plastic

Use environmentally friendly cleaning and laundry products

Reduce phantom load by unplugging electronics or use a power strip

Things You Can Do at the Office

Recycle right, compost correctly, and use Denver’s Waste Directory if you’re not sure how

Walk, bike, scoot, carpool or take public transit

Print only what you need, and do so double-sided in black and white

Turn off lights when not needed

Avoid idling DPS vehicles

Have conversations with coworkers and leadership to promote sustainability

Support sustainable vendors

Bring a reusable mug, water bottle, napkin, and towel

Move to paperless workflows

Buy only the amount of supplies you need, and buy eco-friendly products

Stock the breakroom with reusable dishes and silverware

Take the stairs instead of the elevator

Reduce phantom load by unplugging electronics or use a power strip

Explore Meatless Mondays and use locally grown produce

Explore DPS Sustainability Initiatives

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Transportation

Utilities

Wellness

Engagement

Curriculum